Beth Szczerowski has joined the Hope College staff as assistant director of alumni and parent relations.

She started in the position on Monday, Jan. 4. She is responsible for a number of the events, activities and services at the college for alumni and parents and families of students, and works with the program's director on a variety of other aspects of the program.

As assistant director, Szczerowski will assist with the college's regional events and annual on-campus events for alumni, parents and students hosted by the office. She holds additional responsibility for involving alumni and parent volunteers in the college's programs, and for communicating with alumni, parents and friends of the college. She will also assist the program's director, Scott Travis, with strategic planning and program development, and in promoting financial support of the college to alumni, parents, friends and families of Hope.

A 2000 Hope graduate, Szczerowski brings extensive experience in event planning, marketing and community relations to her work at the college. Most recently, she served as the Grand Rapids Children's Museum's marketing and membership manager. In this role, she increased the museum's brand identity in West Michigan and broadened the organization's communications. By making these lasting changes, the museum saw an increase in admissions and was able to provide an environment of unstructured play to a greater number of children and their adults.

She also coordinated the museum's fundraising and program events, including the well-known "Kids at Heart" spring fundraiser. This annual event, with its fun theme and playful atmosphere, raised more than $300,000 under her guidance, and introduced thousands of individuals to the museum's mission.

Szczerowski joined the museum staff in 2005 as member and events manager, and was named marketing and membership manager in January 2009. She had previously been with Goodwill Industries in Grandville, first as a development associate and then as marketing and development supervisor.

A native of Zeeland, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication with a minor in business from Hope. Her activities as a student included the Sigma Sigma sorority, the Nykerk Cup competition and the student-organized Dance Marathon fund-raiser held on behalf of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. She also participated in the Chicago Metropolitan Center off-campus study program.

Szczerowski currently lives in Zeeland with her husband, Andrew, and their two small children.